- UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says the government's aim is to vaccinate the adult population of the UK by September
- It aims to get the first priority groups - 15 million people - a dose by 15 February
- Lifting England's lockdown will not be a "big bang" but will see the reintroduction of the tiers system, Dominic Raab says
- There will be increased checks on those who must quarantine after arriving in the UK, he says
- Ten more mass Covid vaccination centres are to open in England from Monday
- NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens says a 24/7 vaccinations pilot will begin in 10 days' time
- More than half of the Church of England's 14,000 parishes are not expected to open for Sunday services today
- Saturday's data for deaths in the UK within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test took the total by this measure to 88,590
- France has begun a nationwide 6pm to 6am curfew, which will be in place for at least 15 days
- At least 47 tennis players preparing for the Australian Open are in quarantine after positive cases on their flights
Good morning
Welcome to today’s live page. Here is a round-up of the main news stories this morning.- Ten new mass Covid vaccination centres are to open in England from Monday, offering “thousands” of jabs every week. The centres, which join the seven hubs already open, form a key part of the government strategy to have 15 million people in the UK vaccinated by mid-February.
- The Duke of Cambridge has sent “huge congratulations” to all those involved in rolling out the UK’s vaccination programme, saying it was going to make a “massive difference”. Prince William stressed it was important for everyone to get their vaccine when they are told to, and praised the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for leading by example: “My grandparents have had the vaccine and I am very proud of them for doing that.”
- A financial support scheme for airports in England will open this month, following a government decision to close all travel corridors to the UK from Monday until at least 15 February. The scheme will involve grants of up to £8m per applicant, to be used to cover fixed costs, such as business rates. The Airport Operators Association welcomed the government support but said more would be needed.
- The Australian Open has been thrown into disarray after four people tested positive for Covid on two flights that brought tennis players to the tournament in Melbourne. At least 47 players on the flights have gone into hotel isolation for 14 days.All players had to test negative for Covid before boarding flights to Australia and have been placed in designated quarantine hotels. Most are allowed to practice for up to five hours a day, but those on the affected flights must remain confined to their rooms.
- More than half of the Church of England's 14,000 parishes will not open for Sunday services this week. Many of the clergy are shielding, while some parishes have decided it is not safe to admit worshippers. Mosques in England and Wales opened for Friday prayer this week, but many in London – where Covid infections have soared - were closed. Places of worship remain closed throughout Scotland, while Northern Ireland's main church denominations are to cease public worship until early February.
What do the UK papers say?
Several of the Sunday papers report on Covid vaccination plans, with the Telegraph claiming: "All over-18s could have jab by end of June".- Ministers, the Telegraph reports, are "increasingly optimistic" that they will be able to meet this target, with up to five million people vaccinated each week.
- The Sunday Mirror argues frontline health workers should not have to wait three months for the second booster jab and says teachers, police and firefighters should be prioritised.
- The Sun on Sunday says the public is “fed up… with Covidiots”. More than half of the people questioned in a YouGov poll for the paper felt the police were not being tough enough on those flouting lockdown measures.
- The Mail on Sunday reports US claims that workers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill with coronavirus-like symptoms in autumn 2019, and that the lab's scientists were experimenting with a bat coronavirus similar to the one that causes Covid. It says the Chinese government is under growing pressure to reveal the "true origins" of the pandemic.
- The Sunday Times splashes with claims officials have been told to prepare for the creation of quarantine hotels for arrivals to the UK, and to use GPS and facial recognition technology to check that people are staying in isolation. It also reports on a Cabinet deal by government to approve a plan to begin lifting lockdown restrictions in early March.
Ten new mass vaccination centres to open in England
Ten new mass Covid vaccination centres are to open in England from Monday, as the government tries to meet its target to give 15 million people in the UK their first jab by 15 February.Blackburn Cathedral and St Helens Rugby Ground are among the venues chosen to join the seven hubs already in use.
People aged 80 or over, who live up to a 45-minute drive from a centre, are now being offered the choice of arranging a jab at one of the 17 centres, or at a pharmacy site through the national booking service.
Anyone not wanting to travel can wait to be contacted by their GP-led vaccination service or hospital.
According to the Department of Health and Social Care, about 45% of those aged 80 and over have been vaccinated.
Writing in the Sunday Express, Health Secretary Matt Hancock calls on the public to commit to three pledges to "help out", "join up" and "stay informed".
Mr Hancock says: "We can see the way out of this pandemic. We are nearly on the home straight."
Where will the new mass vaccination centres be?
- Bournemouth International Centre, Dorset
- Taunton Racecourse, Somerset
- Blackburn Cathedral, Lancashire
- Salt Hill Activity Centre, Berkshire
- Norwich Food Court, Norfolk
- The Lodge in Wickford, Essex
- Princess Royal Sports Arena, Lincolnshire
- St Helens Rugby Ground, Merseyside
- The park-and-ride at Askham Bar, York
- Olympic Office Centre in Wembley, north London
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